Community Engagement Strategies in Public Urban Parks: A Review of Ndubuisi Kanu, Muri Okunola and Freedom Park in Lagos State

References

[1] Abiodun, J. O. (1997). The challenge of urban development in Nigeria's secondary cities. Habitat International, 21(3), 229–240.

[2] Adedeji, J. A., & Fadamiro, J. A. (2013). Residents' perception of urban open spaces in Akure, Nigeria.

[3] Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.

[4] Bolund, P., & Hunhammar, S. (1999). Ecosystem services in urban areas. Ecological Economics, 29(2), 293–301.

[5] BusinessDay NG. (2026, January). How Freedom Park became Lagos' iconic hub. BusinessDay Newspaper. https://businessday.ng

[6] Chiesura, A. (2004). The role of urban parks for the sustainable city. Landscape and Urban Planning, 68(1), 129–138.

[7] Dumbaugh, E., & Rae, R. (2009). Safe urban form: Revisiting the relationship between community design and traffic safety. Journal of the American Planning Association, 75(3), 309–329.

[8] Evendo. (2025). Ndubuisi Kanu Park: Nature's serenity in the heart of Lagos. https://evendo.com

[9] FlightPadi. (2025). Visiting Muri Okunola Park in December 2025: Your complete guide. https://flightpadi.com

[10] Francis, M. (2002). Village Homes: A case study in community design. Landscape Journal, 21(1), 23–41.

[11] Francis, M., Cashdan, L., & Paxson, L. (1984). Community open spaces. Island Press. Freedom Park Lagos. (2024). About Freedom Park. https://freedomparklagos.com Garvin, A., & Berens, G. (1997). Urban parks and open spaces. The Urban Land Institute.

[12] Guardian Nigeria. (2025, July). Group promotes unity, culture, community bonds at forum. The Guardian Newspaper. https://guardian.ng

[13] Hester, R. T. (1999). Participation with a view. Places, 12(1), 8–13.

[14] Humbo. (2024). Freedom Park Lagos: From prison to paradise. https://humbo.com

[15] Ikeja Record. (2024, March). From ruins to restoration: Discovering the treasures in Freedom Park Lagos. https://ikejarecord.com

[16] Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S., & Ryan, R. L. (1998). With people in mind: Design and management of everyday nature. Island Press.

[17] Kuo, F. E., Sullivan, W. C., Coley, R. L., & Brunson, L. (1998). Fertile ground for community: Inner-city neighborhood common spaces. American Journal of Community Psychology, 26(6), 823–851.

[18] Lagos Diaspora. (2022). Lagos diaspora destinations: Muri Okunola Park. https://www.lagosdiaspora.ng

[19] LASPARK. (2017). LASPARK brings art to Muri-Okunola Park. https://laspark.lagosstate.gov.ng LASPARK. (2023).Aboutus:LagosState ParksandGardensAgency. https://lasparkportal.lagosstate.gov.ng

[20] LASPARK. (2025). Ndubuisi Kanu Park set to reopen for public use as LASPARK hosts private family fun fair. https://lasparkportal.lagosstate.gov.ng

[21] Leyden, K. M. (2003). Social capital and the built environment: The importance of walkable neighbourhoods. American Journal of Public Health, 93(9), 1546–1551.

[22] Ogu, V. I. (2002). Urban residential satisfaction and the planning implications in a developing world context. International Planning Studies, 7(1), 37–53.

[23] Olalekan, A., & Adeyemi, T. (2020). Urban green space utilisation in Lagos State: Implications for public health and well-being. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 11(4), 945–957.

[24] Project for Public Spaces. (2000). How to turn a place around: A handbook for creating successful public spaces. Project for Public Spaces.

[25] Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.

[26] TheCable. (2024, December). Before and after: 10 years later, Ndubuisi Kanu Park in Lagos slips into decline. https://www.thecable.ng

[27] UN-Habitat. (2020). World cities report 2020: The value of sustainable urbanisation. United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

[28] ViewLagos. (2024). Muri Okunola Park. https://viewlagos.ng

[29] Wikipedia. (2026). Freedom Park (Lagos). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Park_(Lagos) Wikipedia. (2026). Ndubuisi Kanu Park. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ndubuisi_Kanu_Park

@article{1716353,
      author = {Babamboni Adekunle S., Adenaike Anthony F., Coker Racheal, Ojuri Boluwatito J., Agboola Samuel O.},
      title = {Community Engagement Strategies in Public Urban Parks: A Review of Ndubuisi Kanu, Muri Okunola and Freedom Park in Lagos State},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {10},
      pages = {1626-1634},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1716353.pdf},
      abstract = {Community engagement in public urban parks plays a critical role in the social, cultural, and environmental well-being of urban populations. This study reviews community engagement strategies employed at three prominent public urban parks in Lagos State, Nigeria - Ndubuisi Kanu Park in Ikeja, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, and Freedom Park on Lagos Island. These parks, managed under the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and other government authorities, serve as essential green infrastructure within one of Africa's most densely populated megacities. The study adopts a descriptive review methodology, drawing on secondary sources including institutional reports, government publications, academic literature, and media records to investigate the nature, scope, and effectiveness of community engagement practices at each park. Findings reveal that engagement strategies vary significantly across the three parks: Ndubuisi Kanu Park prioritises environmental education, tree planting advocacy, and recreational programmes; Muri Okunola Park leverages cultural events, open-air art exhibitions, and social gatherings to foster community bonds; while Freedom Park employs heritage tourism, cultural performances, and historical interpretation to promote civic identity and public participation. The study concludes that sustainable community engagement in urban parks requires a multi-pronged approach that integrates environmental education, cultural programming, youth participation, public-private partnerships, and inclusive governance. Recommendations are made for stronger policy frameworks and community-centred management models to enhance the social functions of urban parks in Lagos State.},
      keywords = {Community engagement, Cultural programming, Environmental education, Heritage tourism, Lagos State, LASPARK, , Public green spaces, Urban parks.},
      month = {April},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1716353}
  }